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This article has been sent you from Bamba Laye Jallow ([log in to unmask])
29 June 2000
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Main Story from 365 staff - 28 June 2000
MAIN STORY
ZIZOU KEEPS HIS HEAD TO PUT FRENCH INTO FINAL
<B>France 2 Portugal 1 (Golden Goal in Extra Time)</B>
WHAT should have been one of the showpiece games of the European Championships descended into undignified scenes as the seemingly irresistible force driving France through the tournament took them to the final.
With just four minutes of extra-time left, France and Portugal were on level terms at 1-1 and seemingly heading for a penalty shoot-out after a game which had never fulfilled its potential in Brussels. However, a penalty arrived sooner than either side had imagined when the French were awarded a spot-kick for a handball by Everton defender Abel Xavier from a shot by substitute Sylvain Wiltord.
The Portuguese were not just angry though, they were absolutely livid, even though TV replays showed the decision was correct. However, their complaints disgracefully continued long after Zinedine Zidane, who has clearly been the best player in this tournament, had calmly scored the 'golden goal' winner from the spot.
Before the penalty was taken, the Portuguese players harangued first the Austrian referee Gunter Benko and then the linesman who had spotted Xavier's infringement, with several having to be dragged away by their coach, Humberto Coelho.
After Zidane had scored and while the French celebrated their place in the final just two years after winning the World Cup, the complaints continued with Paulo Bento completely losing his head. A posse of Portuguese players surrounded the referee, pushing and shoving, and the official, who waved a red card at one of them, appeared to have singled out Nuno Gomes.
Rui Jorge was also out of order as the linesman had to be shepherded off the pitch and the memories of what should have been a spectacle of the highest order between two talented teams will simply be of those depressing scenes.
But while UEFA will surely investigate the Portuguese actions, France still advanced to the final against either Holland or Italy despite never reaching their peak in the semi-final. In the first-half, the French - with six Premiership players in their starting line-up - duly impersonated England in their ability to pass the ball and went behind to Gomes' fourth goal of the competition on 18 minutes.
Portugal, who were defending stoutly without ever threatening to repeat the attacking form they showed against Kevin Keegan's side, were pegged back through a 50th-minute equaliser by Arsenal striker Thierry Henry. And after a superb late save by Fabien Barthez from Xavier took the game to extra-time before the dramatic climax from a side who were helped into the semi-finals by Spanish striker Raul missing a last-minute spot-kick in Bruges.
That Portugal have lost each of their three appearances in the semi-final of a major competition - losing in 1984 to France and in 1966 to England - only increased their sense of a missed opportunity for a side with the talents of Luis Figo. The Portuguese winger was outplayed by Zidane, however, who was head and shoulders above any other player on the pitch and fully deserved his winner.
The French had started slowly however, with Nicolas Anelka and Emmanuel Petit back in the side as Youri Djorkaeff and Christophe Dugarry, the attacking midfield duo who excelled against Spain, dropping out.
Portugal coach Coelho meanwhile left Joao Pinto on the bench, which initially seemed a surprise but, in the first-half at least, his selection decision proved to be astute. For he chose to pack a five-man midfield, disrupting France's supply lines to their isolated forwards and Arsenal duo Petit and Vieira were shadows of their normal selves as they came under constant pressure every time they received the ball.
The French were dominating possession but creating virtually nothing. Portugal were defending and battling with tremendous heart even if they offered little in attack themselves, with Luis Figo hardly seeing the ball, let alone receiving it in space. But all it took was a moment of sheer inspiration to put the Portuguese ahead on 18 minutes as a tackle and surging run by Sergio Conceicao, aided by a slight deflection, sent the ball towards Gomes.
It was nothing more than a half-chance at best but from 20 yards out, the striker - who is apparently being chased by Premiership clubs - let fly with a stunning volley which left Barthez rooted to the spot as the ball sped past him just inside the post.
France were immediately unsettled as the Gallic gesticulations increased in frequency, Vieira was booked and Petit had the temerity to berate Zidane. After all, this is a side who won the World Cup, deserved to beat Spain in their quarter-final as they looked possibly the most complete side in the tournament and whose first-choice defence have never lost a game in four years together.
Finally the game was opening up slightly though as Henry's shot was deflected over after a scintillating run by Zidane, who curled a drive just a foot wide shortly before half-time. The Portuguese rearguard action did not last, however.
Five minutes after the break, Anelka, whom the Portuguese were convinced was offside, broke down the right flank and cut the ball back to Henry, who turned and shot on the turn, with the ball clipping Fernando Couto on its way into the net.
The French came within inches of winning a penalty soon afterwards, when Jorge Costa brought down Anelka - seemingly just within the area but adjudged to have been on the line - but were only given a free-kick. They were still growing in confidence, however, while Portugal started to lose their compact shape, yet at least that led to a more open game.
France's pressure increased, with a superb ball by Zidane almost putting through Anelka, who was replaced by Wiltord soon afterwards, while Petit came close with a drive.
Vieira was certainly making far more of an impact, while Zidane was in a class of his own, and while France were still far from approaching top gear, it was now the Portuguese who were making the mistakes as the tension grew.
Gomes threatened with a header towards substitute Joao Pinto, Thuram almost burst through at the other end, but it took a world-class save by Barthez to tip Xavier's flicked header over the bar just before the start of extra-time.
Tempers soon rose as Henry played on while Figo lay injured and with several players looked tired, even half-chances were few and far between and Zidane and Laurent Blanc both headed off target when they did arise. Joao Pinto struck a drive just inches wide on the counter-attack but then Xavier conceded the penalty and as virtual chaos ruled around him, Zidane remained the calmest figure in the stadium as he secured France's place in the final.
France: Barthez, Thuram, Desailly, Blanc, Lizarazu, Vieira, Deschamps, Petit, Zidane, Henry, Anelka. Subs: Lama, Rame, Candela, Djorkaeff, Pires, Wiltord, Micoud, Leboeuf, Karembeu, Dugarry, Trezeguet.
Portugal: Baia, Xavier, Couto, Costa, Dimas, Conceicao, Vidigal, Rui Costa, Costinha, Figo, Gomes. Subs: Bento, Beto, Capucho, Espinha, Jorge, Pauleta, Pinto, Quim, Sa Pinto, Sousa, Secretario.
Referee: G Benko (Austria)
POST-MATCH QUOTES
Portuguese coach Humberto Coelho, who resigned after Portugal's unhappy 2-1 defeat by France, thought the ball had struck Abel Xavier's hand accidentally and therefore the controversial penalty decision which sank his team should never have been given.
.
"The shot was so close to him that he could not take his hand out of the way. But it is the referee's decision. It was a shame to go out like that but we played really well and France are a great team.
"I am not sure it was a penalty or not. Maybe if it had happened against France we would be happy. I don't know if the ball hit his hand or not. It was sad to finish the game this way. It was a very good performance by my team."
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